Bizo Sogavo (Melissa and the Boys)



Updated 1/5/18:
THANK YOU so much for all of your generous donations to Melissa and the boys.   This collection of money is going to be very helpful as they start to take steps forward and make plans for the future. 

Melissa and they boys plan to stay in Papua New Guinea until early June.  They are living on the New Tribes (Ethnos 360) Missionary Center where they are surrounded by friends and support.  This will allow the boys to finish the school year with their friends.  In early June, the family will fly back to the US and settle down in the Chicagoland area (Possibly in the Naperville/Aurora area).   

The funds we have raised will help with any and all of the following:
Plane tickets to the US
Housing/Rent
Furniture
Minivan
Monthly Food Expenses
Clothing for the boys
Clothing for Melissa
Summer activiites for the boys
Living expences  

My wife, Lisa Jarot, and I are beginning to plan a Celebration Gathering held in the Chicago area to remember and honor Bizo.   This will be a time where all of the Sogavo's friends and family from the states can gather to  show our love and support for Melissa, Alex, Logan, Liam, and Thurston.
Stay connected to the Bizo facebook group for the dates and details.  (Tentative date and Location:  Saturday, June 23rd at Judson Universtity)  Save the date!  


 
Updated 12/21/17:
Pictures from the visitation, memorial service, and burial are now posted on the Bizo Celebrate His Life Facebook page linked below: please share with your communities in order to remember Bizo and honor our God.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1148930358570498


Updated 12/9/17:  
When we shared the news of this fundraising site with Melissa she began to weep. She is overwhelmed and humbled with the deep understanding that her friends, family, the Church, and even strangers, have been so generous and faithful to give. Bizo had just invested all of their savings into materials for their home and the business he was building near their home. These funds will all be used to help Melissa re-establish herself and move forward with plans for her and the 4 boys. I will continued to update this go fund me site regarding her the plans for her future when Melissa is ready to take steps forward. I have once again raised the goal!!!! Melissa is of course still morning and dealing with Bizo's death. She is so strong and has fully embraced the deep mourning that needs to take place, yet she is truly standing on an unshakable faith and hope for her future. The road moving forward will be very hard without Bizo, but she knows that she is not along and these funds will be so helpful for her to take those next steps.

If you are interested in seeing videos and pictures about Bizo's life, Melissa and the boys, and the status of their plans, please join the Bizo Sogavo (Celebrate his Life) Facebook group.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1148930358570498
I will continue to post pics and videos of the Sogavo family.
Note: Melissa has asked me to share these pics and videos.


Update 12/9:
We just raised the goal!  Shame on me for putting a cap on the generosity of Bizo's friends and family.  Shame on me for not understanding the power of people who know true community.  If you knew Bizo, you knew he was a man who took care of others.  He had very little, but gave fully.    

I took off from Chicago and we had raised about 11K.  I landed in Germany, took a nap in the airport, and when I woke up, we had raised over 30K.   Let's see what happens after my next layover in Singapore.  :)   

We want this fundraiser to be a place Melissa can see and "feel" the love and support we all have for her.  Give generously!  
I want this Facebook Group Page (Bizo Sogavo - Celebrate his Life) to be a place Alex, Logan, Liam, and Thurston can view years from now to know their Dad. 

I will also  be doing my best to post pictures, videos and messages from New Guinea.  Follow, Share!  

It is our responsibility to take care of Melissa and the boys.  They will need finances and our continued support.  Let's make sure his boys know the man they had as their dad. 


Initial Message: 12/8
Bizo was a husband to Melissa a loving father to Alex, Logan, Liam, and Thurston, son to Sogavo, Tapiso, Glen and Kathy, a brother, and a friend to thousands. While doing something he loved, playing soccer, he collapsed and passed away. Bizo’s death is a shocking tragedy, an unimaginable situation and an epic loss that leaves me feeling confused and devastated. Even in the middle of this sorrow, I know Bizo would want everyone to recall your dearest memory of him and celebrate his life. I see that goofy smile, hear the squeeky giggle, and feel the genuine love he had for so many.  

Let us honor his life, by showing him how much his community cares about him and his family. Melissa and the four boys need our help. As many of you may know, Bizo and Melissa were building a home together on the mountainside overlooking the valley we grew up. This home was their dream for the boys and so they were investing all of their savings into this project. I think we can all agree that Bizo was the hardest working person we know and he was planning on raising his family in this home and then saving for the future. Unfortunately, because his time was cut short this dream was interrupted. Bizo and Melissa both were generous givers and lived life to the fullest by investing in people, relationships, and things that mattered to the Kingdom. Now it is our turn to invest back into this family.  They will need many forms of love, support, and encouragement as Melissa builds a new dream for her and the boys. Let's make sure that financial burden is not one of the things that Melissa needs to worry about right now.  

This fundraising goal is large, but I believe this community can pull together as they consider the astronomical costs that are included in raising a family.